The Palo Alto Police Department has decided not to release either the body camera footage or the collision report tied to Kyle Shanahan’s recent car crash.
According to TMZ Sports, the department turned down a public records request and said both items are exempt from disclosure under the California Public Records Act. A department spokesperson said, “Nothing will be released related to this accident.” Police also said the footage would stay private even if Shanahan asked for it, because other people appear in it.
That ruling comes just days after Shanahan publicly laid out what happened in the July 14 crash. The 49ers head coach said his phone slipped between the seats while he was driving, and when he looked down to grab it, he drifted into the oncoming lane and hit an SUV. Shanahan also said he was not using the phone when the collision happened.
There was also confusion early on about who was at fault. Initial reports pointed to the other driver after California’s statewide crash database listed that motorist as responsible. Shanahan later said the police report did not blame the other driver and that the database entry was the result of a clerical error.
49ers vice president of security Jeremy Jones said police told him the incorrect database entry came from the same clerical mistake.
Former NFL quarterback Chris Simms, who is a longtime friend of Shanahan’s, later revealed how serious the injuries were. Simms’ account matched the reports describing Shanahan’s ordeal, and he said the coach came close to losing an eye.
With the department refusing to release the footage, the public won’t get to see the officers’ on-scene interactions. And while the delayed disclosure and database error have raised questions, police have not indicated that any criminal wrongdoing took place.
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